As the country’s mass testing ensues, 43 staff members from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and 71 cops have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to RITM Director Dr. Celia Carlos, the infected RITM staff members who are experiencing mild symptoms have been quarantined in one of their isolation facilities. Those who were already exhibiting serious symptoms have already been sent to the hospital. Where the staff members contracted the disease remains unidentified.
https://www.facebook.com/DrTonyLeachon/photos/a.463905947118400/1623143324527984/?type=3&theater
Last Apr. 16, the Department of Health (DOH) issued a statement saying that the RITM will scale down their operations from Apr. 16 to Apr. 24 in order to lower the risk of infection of their healthcare workers. They are currently only receiving tests from Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay and Las Piñas. The other tests are being conducted at the other 16 accredited testing centers.
Only testing laboratories have been affected by this increase in infections. The RITM hospital continues its operations.
On the other hand, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has said that three more police personnel have just tested positive for the virus which brings the number of cops infected to 71.
The RITM is the leading healthcare laboratory for conducting COVID-19 tests with a standard of around 900 to 1,000 tests daily. However, with the recent scaling down, there have been no updates yet on how many tests are currently being conducted in their laboratories.
As of writing, there are currently 6,459 positive cases of COVID-19 with 428 deaths and 613 recoveries.
Header photo courtesy of Marianne Berumudez from Inquirer.net
Get more stories like this by subscribing to our weekly newsletter here.
Read more:
PH to set up specimen collection booths to improve COVID-19 testing program
PH begins mass testing as COVID-19 cases near 5,000 mark
What are antibodies? How can it help COVID-19 patients?
Writer: THEA TORRES
